Not enough proof against LeT, is Gilani’s refrain

NEW DELHI: Pakistan prime minister Yousaf Raza Gilani has said that the Pakistani government could take action against the Lashkar-e-Toiba only after obtaining `effective evidence.'

Revealing the unwillingness of the Pakistani establishment to take action against the terror group, Mr Gilani said he wanted evidence against LeT, responsible for the Mumbai terror attacks.

"If we have more effective evidence, certainly they will be brought to justice," he added. "We don't want our soil used against any country and neither would we allow somebody else's soil to be used against Pakistan," said Mr Gilani, dashing any hope that New Delhi might have harboured of action against the terror group, an ISI-creation that has consistently carried out attacks against India.

Pakistan was forced to ban Lashkar and freeze its bank accounts following a UNSC resolution proscribing the terror outfit. Mr Gilani admitted that US president Barack Obama had raised the issue of Pakistani action against LeT during the bilateral meeting.

But Mr Gilani's reaction shows that there is no inclination on the part of the establishment to tackle the issue of terror originating from Pakistani soil. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had sought action against the perpetrators of the Mumbai terror attacks for improved ties between the two countries.

``President Obama discussed with me what he really wants ... good relations (between India and Pakistan) and certainly it is in everybody's interests to play a role, whatever they can play, to bring Pakistan and India closer," Mr Gilani said.

In spite of Mr Obama's efforts, there seemed little change in the Pakistani position on taking action against perpetrators of the Mumbai terror attacks. This was confirmed by Pakistani foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi who said India needed to "look beyond Mumbai," "Mumbai was sad, Mumbai was tragic and should not have happened. But we are as much victims of terrorism as Indians are," he was quoted as saying.